The ‘sociology of work and career’ module has exposed us to a range of career development theories that have exercised our sociological knowledge. It has enabled us to use ‘theoretical triangulation’ to apply such theories to our own career development and in ways predict what we could be facing after completing university. This report shall illustrate some examples of career theories studied this term, along with an account of ways in which my personal career development can be associated. In recent times the meaning of work is characteristically linked with paid employment. Nevertheless, work can also be significant through unpaid, cooperative, collective, familial and individuated roles. Edgell (2006) offers insight into the transformation …show more content…
My current position in a post-industrial society has meant that I am up against a competitive labour market that my working-class background was not entirely fit for. Competition between corporations has meant that the most successful economic work roles are only offered to those with exceptional qualifications and experience. To work in favour of this labour market, I knew that university could help my position. However, high-priced tuition fees had caused me to question if my working-class family would be able to support me with costs. Despite the initial doubt, I went ahead with applying to fulfil the long-term benefits of making myself a more desirable candidate within the competitive labour market. Immediately, I can associate my decision with Goffman’s (1961) theory of career. The theory claims that career refers to the social strands of a person’s life course. It enables people to move between the significance of ones self and society (Goffman 1961). By identifying myself as a working-class female, I had recognised the requirements I needed to succeed in today’s society. Super’s (1980) ideas behind the life span can also be applicable to this, as it notes how exploration stages occur between ages 15-25. The stages involve individual’s efforts to make occupational decisions and career alternatives (Super 1980). I mirrored this with my conscientious decision to achieve a degree to further my career
Society’s expectation of Ian to strive for superior education in a big city holds a large role in negatively impacting his struggle to achieve his goals. Modern society has inclined towards a Charles Darwins Principles of Biology (1864) occupational system, or as Herbert Spencer coined: survival of the fittest. In current civilization, the competition in the job industry has become vastly augmented due to the influx of individuals striving for the maximum level of education possible. With this development of competition, location and degree of study is imperative to success in one’s future. The expectation to receive a higher educa...
Work is a word that one hears on a daily basis on multiple different levels; work out, work at school, go to work, work at home, work for change. Society today is made of people that work hard every moment of their day from sunrise to twilight, these workers work for food, housing, family, education, and transportation. Essentially in today’s world if one wants something they must work for it, gone are the days where handouts are common and charity is given freely. The question then arises, who speaks for these voiceless workers that are often working so hard they have no time to voice an opposition? The authors Levine and Baca speak very well for these workers and for society in general, their narrators speak of not only work but of the world
Watson, T. (2008) The Meaning of Work. The Sociology of Work and Industry. London: Routledge.
Application of career theories to my own life allows for analyzing past and future career decisions. Holland’s Theory of Careers states that one’s vocation is an expression of self, personality, and way of life. There is an indisputable and fundamental difference in the quality of life one experiences if they choose a career one truly enjoys, versus choosing a career one detests. A true testament to the validity of Holland’s theory, my job/career choices reflect my interests, as well as the evolution of my personality (internal self). My first job as a fine jewelry specialist and second job as a make-up artist echo my love of the fashion world. As I matured and became less fascinated by presumed “glamour” careers, I became captivated by physical fitness, nutrition, and medicine; I received my national fitness trainer certificate so that I may become a personal trainer. Nevertheless, my career decisions do not fit uniformly into merely one career theory.
Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) is a relatively new theory that is aimed at explaining three unified aspects of career development: 1. how basic academic and career interests develop, 2. how educational and career choices are made, and 3. how academic and career success is obtained. The theory incorporates a variety of concepts that appear in earlier career theories and have been found to affect career development (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 2000).
184). Other than the occupational identity lasting longer, Arnett has failed to demonstrate his claims of a prolonged identity in the form of empirical evidence. A prolonged professional occupation may be because in the recent decade individuals have opportunity in attaining loans and grants to achieve a formal education by graduating college. Furthermore, decent jobs available today require or suggest a college degree of their applicants and future employees, which lead the positions available to be competitive, thus leaving people to pursue a master’s level or doctoral degree for improved successes in the workforce. Nevertheless, the “emerging adult” age group seems to adjust their focus on their education rather than settling down in marriage and starting a family. Cote expresses Arnett’s focuses on his claims of development on the parameters and timing of their first marriage, (Cote, 2014, pp. 179). Researchers may speculate Arnett comes to his conclusion based on the prolonged time it takes for a person to achieve their professional long term occupation. However, these two entities could be tied together, where one factor impacts the other which prolongs an individual’s professional
These examples of career changes reflect a common trend—increased job mobility. The linear career path that once kept people working in the same job, often for the same company, is not the standard career route for today's workers. Today, many workers are pursuing varied career paths that reflect sequential career changes. This set of ongoing changes in career plans, direction, and employers portrays the lifetime progression of work as a composite of experiences. This Digest explores how changing technologies and global competitiveness have led to redefinition of interests, abilities, and work options that influence career development.
Career change can be incorporated into the tran-theoretical model of change (TTM) to examine the lifespan and approaches to career development. “With the new paradigm of modern workers facing repeated career changes due to voluntary and involuntary turnover, a model outlining the change processes may contribute to more effective counseling strategies” (Barclay, 2010). Although, this model does not reflect the path of career changers, it offers an explanation of why people change careers when they leave
Some day you might find yourself sitting at your desk wondering what life would be like if you’ve chosen a different career path. In today’s world, it doesn’t even need to be a distant dream – career change is possible and a lot of people take the steps to change their career paths in wild ways.
It’s nonsensical to believe that every sixteen-year old should know what he or she wants to do with his or her life, and even more so to discourage someone from pursuing his or her interests. In a capitalist society, it makes sense that average salaries a few years out from college graduation would strongly influence the interests of many young people. It’s not uncommon to come across newspaper articles or editorials bemoaning the United States’ lack of engineers or glut of unemployed English majors. It’s even more common to...
According to the study of this course, I have learned many useful management skills and I feel like these skills will be applied to my future career development. When working on the self- assessment tests, I found myself fall into the category of the ISTJ personality types, which as illustrated by Myers Briggs, is the type of personality that is conscientious, considerate, and helpful. Personality traits such as honest, dutiful, practical and responsible are my strengths; personality traits such as stubborn, insensitive and poor communication skill are my weaknesses. Related to the knowledge I have learned in the course I believe both strengths and weakness will have influence to my future career development. In this reflection paper, I will demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses that may place the most influence on my way of success.
Coming to the point of my current career choice has been a long road. My idea of what a career is or should be has changed with circumstances and age. According to Weintraub (2005), “the average worker spends only four years in a job and will have 12 jobs in as many as five career fields during his or her working life.” (para. 1) My first career was marriage and motherhood followed by a surprising healthcare career. What the future holds waits to be seen. With a bachelor of science degree in information technology the options are wide open.
Over recent decades, the proportion of young people studying at university has increased significantly. As the nature of employment has changed, many feel that obtaining a degree is essential to securing a successful and satisfying career. However, university study provides far more than just a qualification. This essay will explore some of the wider advantages of higher education, namely with regard to the individual 's social and cultural development, networking opportunities and the development of independence.
Careers are not something to be taken in a light manner as it acts as a major function in every being’s life. Career dysfunctional may results in decreased self confidence, increased interpersonal communication problems or traces of depression. According to Beverly Baskin, the term career can be defined as the the totality of work one does in one’s lifetime. Given this definition, education, family responsibilities, work and leisure activities are inclusive.
MY RESPONSE: A job analysis should include in every human resource function, because it supports the business strategy, analyzes employees’ performance, and broadcasts the future developments. This practice helps to identify the needs for specific skills, and it's a useful tool for hiring, promotion, and training. For instance, when performing an assessment, you are looking not only for a job performance, you can identify a specific behavior or areas of possible improvements. The job assessment helps to identify additional needs for enhancement or correction. There is a correlation between managers and employees, and collected data will help to determine the internal environment and how good the relationship is. For example, during training,